Predictors of Past Quit Attempts and Length of Abstinence Among Waterpipe Smokers in Lebanon
Published: October 1, 2018 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2018/34524.12157
Nelly Layoun, Souheil Hallit, Mirna Waked, Zeina Aoun Bacha, Alain Leveque, Michele Dramaix, Pascale Salameh
1. Dr., Biostatistics and Clinical Research, School of Public Health, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium; Doctoral School of Sciences and Technologies,
Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon; Faculty of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon.
2. Dr., Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), Jounieh, Lebanon; INSPECT-LB: Institut National de Sante Publique,
Epidemiologie Clinique et Toxicologie, Beirut, Lebanon.
3. Pr., Department of Pulmonology, St George Hospital University Medical Center; Faculty of Medicine, Balamand University, Lebanon.
4. Pr., Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Hotel-Dieu de France, Beirut, Lebanon.
5. Pr., Biostatistics and Clinical Research, School of Public Health, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium.
6. Pr., Biostatistics and Clinical Research, School of Public Health, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium.
7. Pr., Faculty of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon; INSPECT-LB: Institut National de Sante Publique, Epidemiologie Clinique et Toxicologie, Beirut,
Lebanon; Faculty of Medicine, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon.
Correspondence
Dr. Souheil Hallit,
Building 560, Street 8, 1st floor, Biakout, Lebanon.
E-mail: souheilhallit@hotmail.com
Introduction: The popularity of waterpipe smoking is dramatically increasing in Lebanon, reaching 36.9%, the highest among countries in the region, with a false belief that waterpipe is less dangerous and toxic compared to cigarettes.
Aim: To assess factors associated with the quit attempts and their past length of abstinence in a Lebanese sample of waterpipe smokers.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between March 2014 and March 2015 involving 127 patients. A questionnaire was completed by each participant; Quit attempts, real quit attempt durations and the intention to seriously quit waterpipe smoking in 2 months were assessed. Two forward logistic regressions were performed, taking into account the variables in the bivariate analysis that showed a p-value <0.2.
Results: Past attempt to quit waterpipe smoking was significantly higher among smokers who had cough and expectoration for more than 3 weeks (OR=8.2), at higher stages of readiness to quit (OR=2.78) and being highly motivated (OR=2.27). A longer duration of abstinence to smoke waterpipe was higher among waterpipe smokers less than 45 years (OR=6.85), who considered it very important to report health warning on tumbac packages (OR=3.09) and with a low waterpipe dependence (OR=2.13).
Conclusion: Health care professionals should play an important role in explaining the side effects of waterpipe smoking in order to decrease dependence.
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